4

The next morning, my schedule came through. First class: English Literature, 9:00 a.m. Sharp. I rubbed my eyes and sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through my emails. My stomach was tight. Nerves. New place, new people. New everything.

I stepped into the hallway and called my mom.

She picked up on the second ring.

“Sweetheart! Did you settle in okay?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Room’s small, but it’s good. Danika’s nice.”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” she said. “I knew you’d get a cool roommate. And how’s Kole? Did he drop you off okay?”

I paused. My mouth felt dry.

“Actually… we broke up,” I said, quick. “I’ll explain later, it’s fine.”

“Oh,” she said. “Are you okay?”

“Totally. Just… settling in. I’ll call you after my first class.”

We said goodbye and I walked back into the room. Danika was sitting cross-legged on her bed, brushing out her wet hair. She looked up and raised an eyebrow.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“You sure? You looked like you were about to cry. Was it… because of last night?”

She looked almost guilty. Like maybe she thought the threesome welcome party had ruined me.

“No,” I said fast. “No, it’s not that.”

She waited.

I sat down and exhaled. “It’s… I walked in on my boyfriend and my best friend. Fucking. In his bed. They were supposed to drive me here this morning. All three of us. I showed up early. Found them mid-thrust.”

Danika blinked.

“Damn.”

“I heard him tell her her pussy was tighter than mine. That I just lay there like a dead virgin.” My throat tightened. “It hurt. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

Danika dropped her brush and rolled her eyes. “Please. You’ll forget that in a fucking jiffy.”

I looked at her, unsure whether to laugh or feel offended.

She smirked. “No seriously. Tonight’s the fresher welcome party. It’s always the dirtiest night of the year. I’m in my second year and even I still look forward to it. You are going to see the sexiest lineup of men your cute little eyes have ever laid on. And half of them? Horny. All night.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“Oh yeah,” she said. “After class tonight, we’re going together. You’re getting dressed up, we’re getting drunk, and by midnight, you’re going to forget Kole even existed.”

I smiled, and this time it felt real.

Maybe she was right.

I got up, grabbed my bag, and headed to class. Already, the weight in my chest felt lighter.

I was already late.

The hallways were too long, the campus map made no sense, and I was juggling my phone and my coffee trying to figure out where Room 204 was.

My heels clicked against the tile. I turned the corner fast, scanning every door when a hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me hard.

My back hit the wall.

“Kole,” I froze. “What the hell-”

His face was flushed and his grip was damn tight.

“Are you serious right now?” he hissed. “You fucking blocked me?”

I pulled my arm but he didn’t let go.

“It was just a mistake,” he snapped. “Me and Ava, we were drunk. We were waiting for you and started drinking I swear It didn’t mean anything.”

He moved closer. His chest pressed against mine. I turned my head, but his hand slid down, cupping my waist.

“You’re better than her anyway,” he whispered. “You know that, right? Your tits, fuck, Ember, your tits are so hot.”

I couldn't believe this fool was trying to win me over by talking about how my tits were. I was going to lose my mind at this point.

His hand moved lower, I shoved at his chest, angry.

“Let me go!”

He didn’t. He pinned me harder, his voice soft and desperate.

“Ember, please. You know I can’t do this without you.”

And then...he was gone.

A hand wrapped around his neck and yanked him back so hard his feet slipped. Kole hit the wall with a loud thud and choked. I gasped.

There was a man standing between us, dressed all in black, black button-up rolled at the sleeves, black slacks. His hair was tied in a tight bun. His hand was still fisted in Kole’s collar.

“She said to fucking let her go,” he said, low and hard.

Kole tried to pull free. His voice cracked. “What the fuck–?”

The man shoved him back against the wall and let go. Kole stumbled and backed away, his eyes wide now.

“What the fucking hell?” he muttered. “Whatever. Fuck both of you.”

He turned and walked off fast.

I was still frozen.

The man turned slowly to me.

My breath caught in my throat.

Green eyes, that jaw, that voice, that fucking presence.

It was him.

The man from the bar.

He stared at me, quiet. Eyes unreadable. I couldn’t look away. My heart was slamming in my chest.

What the fuck is he doing here?

He didn’t move.

Why is he still looking at me?

He stepped to the side. His hand pointed at the open door beside us.

“Move,” he said.

I didn’t move.

He stared at me again, slower this time. His voice came out cold.

“You’re standing in front of my classroom.”

My stomach dropped.

Room 204. English Literature.

I looked past him at the door.

And the plaque next to it.

Professor Chance Black.

I turned back to him, mouth dry. No fucking way.

He was my fucking English professor.